ClubFloyd Transcript: Common Ground by Stephen GranadeAs played on ifMUD on September 23, 2007

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.
Below is a transcript of Common Ground by Stephen Granade. Common Ground was originally released in 1999, and was a finalist for Best Story in the 1999 Xyzzy Awards. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played it, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.

ToyShop & Floyditorium

#ClubFloyd Discussion

maga goes southwest to play with toys.

inky goes southwest to play with toys.

Gunther goes southwest to play with toys.

Toyshop and Floyditorium

Bulging toychests make this a child's (or child-at-heart's) dream. Play all day, play all night. A small booth has been erected and is staffed by a friendly robot. The sign over it says, "INFOKOM GAMEZ 5 cents". A small notice on the door reads, "PLEASE RETURN TOYS TO THIS ROOM WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THEM."

Jacqueline says, "TWELVE (well, now eleven) minutes until we play Common Ground!"

inky jumps off a bridge

maga says (to Jacq), "because I did and y'all are pathetic sheep"

Jacqueline says, "baaaaahhh"

Gunther jumps off the bridge onto inky

inky says, "hee hee"

DavidW arrives, full of fun and funk.

DavidW says, "I hope you haven't quite started yet."

inky says, "we haven't started for three minutes"

Jacqueline says, "Okay, NOW it's two minutes to ClubFloyd."

Jacqueline says, "Oops - one."

HairBrain says, "beep - beep - beep"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load ground"

Floyd | GlkTADS - A text-only TADS 2.5.3 Interpreter.
Floyd | TADS copyright (c) 1993, 2000 by Michael J. Roberts.
Floyd | Maintained by Stephen Granade <sgranade@phy.duke.edu>
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Common Ground
Floyd | Copyright ? 1999 by Stephen Granade. All rights reserved.
Floyd |
Floyd | Type "about" for more information.
Floyd | Version 2 (Jan 17 2000)
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd | One
Floyd |
Floyd | Great, just great. First you oversleep, end up being late for school.
Floyd | Then the whole day sucks so bad you can barely wait until seventh
Floyd | period's over and you're free. Now you've wasted so much time watching
Floyd | TV that you've gotta rush through your makeup or you won't be ready for
Floyd | tonight before April gets here with her wheels. Mississippi may say
Floyd | you're old enough to drive, but Frank sure doesn't agree.
Floyd |
Floyd | Man, you can't wait for all this to be over.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bedroom
Floyd | You've spent a lot of time in this room, enough that it's really
Floyd | beginning to get on your nerves. You're tired of the stupid posters,
Floyd | you're tired of your stupid bed, you're tired of everything. You just
Floyd | wish it weren't such a hassle to try to change any of it. Besides, if
Floyd | you were going to change anything, you'd start with the clothes in your
Floyd | closet. To the west, across from your window, is a closed door going
Floyd | out.
Floyd | You see a flowerdy bag here. Sitting on the vanity is a geode,
Floyd | mascara, eye shadow, pink blush, and foundation.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "about"

Floyd | Common Ground is copyright ? 1999 by Stephen Granade. It may be freely
Floyd | copied, distributed and played as long as it is not modified in any
Floyd | way. You may not distribute copies of the game for a fee exceeding the
Floyd | cost of distribution.
Floyd |
Floyd | Common Ground has some special commands which you can find out about by
Floyd | typing COMMANDS. HELP will give you help with playing the game; the
Floyd | CREDITS command will list all applicable credits for Common Ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | Note that the only way to talk to someone is to use the command TALK TO
Floyd | [person]. The reason for this will, I suspect, quickly become obvious.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you want to make sure you have the latest version of the game, visit
Floyd | the Common Ground homepage at
Floyd | http://www.phy.duke.edu/~sgranade/ground.html or the GMD archive at
Floyd | either ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/games/tads or
Floyd | http://ifarchive.org/indexes/if-archiveXgamesXtads.html. If you want
Floyd | to give me your opinion of the game, or if you find a bug, please
Floyd | e-mail me at sgranade@phy.duke.edu.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga asks, "'flowerdy'?"

HairBrain says (to Floyd), "x flowerdy"

Floyd | You sometimes wonder if you should replace it, but you really like the
Floyd | flowers printed on it. Most everything you need's in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

HairBrain says (to Floyd), "x flowerdye"

Floyd | I don't know the word "flowerdye".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "huh"

Jacqueline says, "That's a new word for me, too."

maga says, "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE"

Alex says (to maga), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that travesty is responsible."

maga says (to Floyd), "credits"

Floyd |
Floyd | Common Ground
Floyd | Copyright ? 1999 by Stephen Granade. All rights reserved.
Floyd |
Floyd | Type "about" for more information.
Floyd | Version 2 (Jan 17 2000)
Floyd | Developed with TADS, the Text Adventure Development System.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Credits
Floyd |
Floyd | This game would not be half of what it is without the help and guidance
Floyd | of my crack team of beta-testers: Mike Kinyon, Dan Shiovitz, Lucian
Floyd | Smith, and Adam Thornton. They kindly agreed to test the game, even
Floyd | though Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas were looming. It's thanks
Floyd | to them that I was able to finish Common Ground by the end of 1999.
Floyd |
Floyd | A tip o' the hat to those who made suggestions and reported bugs:
Floyd | David Glasser, Neil deMause, Sam Barlow, Magnus Olsson, Gunther
Floyd | Schmidl, Brendan Milburn, Vincent Lynch, Torbj?rn Andersson, Mark
Floyd | Musante, Eric Mayer, Tim Woerner, and Peter Berman.
Floyd |
Floyd | Special thanks go to Misty Granade, who, as always, put up with me
Floyd | while I struggled with writing this game; and to everyone who took part
Floyd | in the ifMUD Implementors' Lunch and gave me invaluable advice. I bet
Floyd | you didn't expect that this game would be the result.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pop open the blush container and take the brush. Staring in the
Floyd | mirror, you rub the pink blush along your cheekbones with quick
Floyd | strokes. Satisfied, you put the brush back and close the container.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros arrives, full of neither funk nor fun.

maga says (to Jacq), "this is more knowledge than I thought you possessed"

Jacqueline says, "haha"

olethros says, "C'est ancora una floydspielnacht"

Jacqueline says (to olethros), "You're just in time - I was demonstrating how to put on makeup, and the boys in the room are strangely silent on this."

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open bag"

Floyd | I don't know how to open the flowerdy bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "x posters"

Floyd | You liked all of the posters when you put them up, especially that one
Floyd | of Mötley Crüe. But they've been up there long enough that you're
Floyd | bored of them. Even the Crüe is last year's band now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Forget this. You stand up and grab your makeup. A little bit of
Floyd | mascara, then you dump all the makeup into your bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

HairBrain says, "I barely understand what 'foundation' means!"

maga says (to Floyd), "look under bed"

Floyd | You used to keep magazines under there until you got tired of your mom
Floyd | yapping at you about them and threw them away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says, "DID you now"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open closet"

Floyd | It's always open, seeing as how its door's been missing since before it
Floyd | was your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in closet"

Floyd | Your closet's full of old clothes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x clothes"

Floyd | You guess they aren't that bad. You'd still like some new ones.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline asks, "Should we leave?"

maga says, "sure"

McMartin arrives, full of fun, but no funk.

maga says (to Floyd), "out"

Floyd | (Opening the bedroom door)
Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hall goes north to your bathroom and south to the stairs. Mom
Floyd | and Frank's bedroom is to the west, directly across from your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline asks, "Should we just slit our wrists and have everyone at school say how tragic it all was that they missed the signs?"

McMartin says, "I thought this game was older than that"

Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, that was Heathers, not Common Ground."

maga says (to Floyd), "n"

Floyd | You open the door and go through, closing it behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your Bathroom
Floyd | Your bathroom's not only small, it's not even right by your bedroom.
Floyd | Some day maybe you'll streak between here and your room, give Frank a
Floyd | real show. A bunch of your bottles are scattered round the sink. The
Floyd | hallway is back to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x bottles"

Floyd | Moisturizer, shampoo, shit like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "really?"

Jacqueline says, "hm - not much here"

There's no obvious exit in that direction.

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | You open the door and go through, closing it behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hall goes north to your bathroom and south to the stairs. Mom
Floyd | and Frank's bedroom is to the west, directly across from your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "w"

Floyd | Mom and Frank's Room
Floyd | Mom and Frank's room is okay, you guess. That waterbed of theirs is
Floyd | pretty sweet, even with that stupid little nightstand next to it.
Floyd | Their bathroom is north, and an open door to the east goes back into
Floyd | the hall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You glance over your shoulder, then pull a bunch of bills from the
Floyd | roll. You stop after about eighty. If you're lucky, Frank won't find
Floyd | them gone for a while. You put the roll back in the drawer and hide
Floyd | the bills you took.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "illicit bills?"

McMartin asks, "Counterfeits?"

maga says, "they're illicit now that Jacq STOLE them"

Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Well, it's all in ones - for the strip joint, you see."

olethros says, "damn those birds must've been endagered"

Jacqueline says, "We could undo, if we want to be a good girl."

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo"

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom and Frank's Room
Floyd | Mom and Frank's room is okay, you guess. That waterbed of theirs is
Floyd | pretty sweet, even with that stupid little nightstand next to it.
Floyd | Their bathroom is north, and an open door to the east goes back into
Floyd | the hall.
Floyd | The nightstand drawer seems to contain a roll of bills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

McMartin says (to olethros), "Well, it's really hard to get the beaks to form neat rolls like that"

Jacqueline says (to maga), "There you go, Voice of Reason."

maga says (to Floyd), "n"

Floyd | Mom and Frank's Bathroom
Floyd | You don't know why Frank has this big thing about you not using his
Floyd | and mom's bathroom. It's not like it's any big secret deal. You can
Floyd | leave it to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "do all moms yap about magazines?"

Jacqueline says, "Depends on the magazines, I suspect."

olethros asks, "Frank is mom's new BF?"

maga says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | Mom and Frank's Room
Floyd | Mom and Frank's room is okay, you guess. That waterbed of theirs is
Floyd | pretty sweet, even with that stupid little nightstand next to it.
Floyd | Their bathroom is north, and an open door to the east goes back into
Floyd | the hall.
Floyd | The nightstand drawer seems to contain a roll of bills.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "close drawer"

Jacqueline says, "Or the stepdad, I think that's unclear as of yet."

Floyd | Closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "e"

olethros says, "> PARTY"

Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hall goes north to your bathroom and south to the stairs. Mom
Floyd | and Frank's bedroom is to the west, directly across from your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "> CALL FRIEDNS"

olethros asks, "do we have a goal, actually?"

maga says, ">GO WILD"

Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing stepdad, because he lives here, and our mother would never have a sleep-over friend to whom she was not wedded in the eyes of God."

maga says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | You head down the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | When you're not in your room you usually hang here, watching TV from
Floyd | the couch. Frank sometimes works at a little desk he's got in here,
Floyd | but he's normally pretty cool with you watching TV while he works.
Floyd | There are stairs to the south. You can get to the kitchen to the
Floyd | northeast and the front door and hallway are northwest.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you come down the stairs, Frank looks up at you. "Goin' out tonight
Floyd | too, huh?" Is his speech slurred again?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "oooooh a real workaholic"

Jacqueline says, "Oi. Lovely."

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x Frank"

Floyd | Frank's dressed in that ratty old Bud t-shirt of his and a greasy pair
Floyd | of jeans. He's working hard on some appliance, frowning at it from
Floyd | time to time.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "A winner!"

olethros says, "handy repair man."

maga says, "yay he is our alcoholic abusive stepdad. this is shaping up to be a made-for-HBO movie"

Jacqueline says, "ha"

olethros says, "> SHOOT HEROIN"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "kiss Frank"

Floyd | Ew.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "yay"

Jacqueline says, "or aw"

olethros says (to Floyd), "shoot heroin"

Floyd | I don't know the word "shoot".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

* GDorn has joined the channel.

maga says, "presumably our mother will show she is a Strong Modern Woman by clonking him over the head with a skillet when he eventually becomes a creepy stalker and tries to abuse us"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x appliance"

Floyd | He's been "working" on some of that junk for years.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "are we playing this game to make fun of it or to have fun?"

Floyd | You wander over to Frank's desk and look at the jumble on it.
Floyd | "What'cha working on?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Toaster," he says, staring at the inside of a chrome-plated box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says, "I don't see how the two are incompatible"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | "Toaster, huh? What's wrong with it?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Thought it was the heater element shorting, but that wasn't it." He
Floyd | goes on a while about the toaster, almost makes you wish you hadn't
Floyd | asked. Finally he gets to the point. "Anyway, the power cord's shot,
Floyd | so now I'm replacing it."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "DAD, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET A REAL JOB"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | You take a couple of steps away from Frank. "Gotta have toast, huh?"
Floyd | But he's not even listening.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "By the way, could you spot me a couple of bucks for tonight?" you ask
Floyd | as casually as you can.
Floyd |
Floyd | He sighs and runs a hand through what's left of his hair. "You know
Floyd | money's tight this month."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

HairBrain says, "I think this use of 'we' is the closest to Being John Malkovich creeping-out we've had yet."

olethros twiddles his thumbs.

Jacqueline says, "No it's not, you jerk. You have a wad of bills in your nightstand!"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | "I know. But it's not like I'm asking for much. I mean, there's not a
Floyd | lot of places to spend money around here 'cept the Sonic. All's I need
Floyd | is like a ten or something."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Look, I told you already. Money's tight, and I don't have any to give
Floyd | you. Now quit yapping about it." Frank pointedly turns back to the
Floyd | toaster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "it's for emergencies!"

maga exclaims, "beer emergencies!"

olethros says (to Floyd), "make toast"

Floyd | I don't know the word "toast".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "attack Frank"

Floyd | He'd hit back.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

McMartin says, "Hedgehog emergencies"

McMartin asks, "Man, who's abusive now?"

Jacqueline says (to maga), "You were RIGHT!"

maga says (to Floyd), "l"

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | When you're not in your room you usually hang here, watching TV from
Floyd | the couch. Frank sometimes works at a little desk he's got in here,
Floyd | but he's normally pretty cool with you watching TV while he works.
Floyd | There are stairs to the south. You can get to the kitchen to the
Floyd | northeast and the front door and hallway are northwest.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You've already got the plaid shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | Mom's been bugging you about learning how to cook, so you've been
Floyd | avoiding the kitchen as much as possible when she's around. There're
Floyd | counters and cabinets along the walls and a table on one side of the
Floyd | kitchen. The hallway's to the west and the living room is southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to olethros), "We have nothing. I used 'undo' after the theft."

maga says (to Floyd), "x cabinets"

Floyd | The kitchen cabinets are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "where's the phone?"

maga says (to Floyd), "open cabinets"

Floyd | You rummage through the cabinets, but you're not all that hungry right
Floyd | now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Alex says (to olethros), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Phone is a phonetic realization of a Phoneme."

Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hallway goes between the kitchen to the east and the front door
Floyd | to the west. There's a bathroom to the north. You can slip around the
Floyd | wall of the hallway and into the living room to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the door and go through, closing it behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bathroom
Floyd | An extra bathroom, with a john and sink.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "Also, judging by the reference to the Piggly Wiggly, the appearance of our stepdad, and the fact that Sargent lives in Alabama, please make sure you are using the appropriate southern accents in your head when reading all dialogue."

Jacqueline says, "Fine, David. Duely noted that you did not think I was being funny."

Floyd | You open the door and go through, closing it behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hallway goes between the kitchen to the east and the front door
Floyd | to the west. There's a bathroom to the north. You can slip around the
Floyd | wall of the hallway and into the living room to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | When you're not in your room you usually hang here, watching TV from
Floyd | the couch. Frank sometimes works at a little desk he's got in here,
Floyd | but he's normally pretty cool with you watching TV while he works.
Floyd | There are stairs to the south. You can get to the kitchen to the
Floyd | northeast and the front door and hallway are northwest.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "watch tv"

Floyd | Yeah, the TV's real exciting when it's off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "where's a jacket?"

Jacqueline asks, "Maybe we need money to start the counter that makes April arrive?"

inky says, "I don't remember much about this game but I remember 'flowerdy' is not a typo."

olethros asks, "anything left to explore?"

McMartin says, "> TEACHER, PUT THOSE BOOKS AWAY"

DavidW says (to inky), "I think there's a garage; not sure."

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "talk to frank"

Floyd | Frank's absorbed in his work again. You talking to him more's only
Floyd | likely to make him mad.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga asks, "hm. what now?"

Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm still contemplating getting some cash."

olethros asks, "no other rooms/objects?"

inky asks, "did you get all your stuff from upstairs?"

Jacqueline says (to inky), "From our room? Yes."

Jacqueline says, "But not from Frank & Mom's room."

olethros says, "let's get the cash and get outta here"

maga says, "okay, okay"

Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure if we want the money, or if this is a game to test our ETHICS, in which case maybe we shouldn't."

maga says, "don't say I didn't warn you"

olethros asks, "we want to get drunk or not?"

olethros says, "if not, then we just stay in and watch the telly"

maga says, "Frank's going to take the buckle end to us, you see if he doesn't"

olethros says, "> ELOPE"

Jota arrives, full of fun, but no funk.

McMartin says, "We could always save first"

Jacqueline says (to McMartin), "BRILLIANT!"

maga says (to Floyd), "save"

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:

Jota says, "I've already played, so I'm just here to watch."

Jacqueline asks, "Why didn't we think of that?"

maga says (to Floyd), "goodgirl"

Floyd | Saved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | You head up the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hall goes north to your bathroom and south to the stairs. Mom
Floyd | and Frank's bedroom is to the west, directly across from your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to McMartin), "Thank you for being here to make our unethical desires okay."

maga says (to Floyd), "w"

Floyd | Mom and Frank's Room
Floyd | Mom and Frank's room is okay, you guess. That waterbed of theirs is
Floyd | pretty sweet, even with that stupid little nightstand next to it.
Floyd | Their bathroom is north, and an open door to the east goes back into
Floyd | the hall.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your billfold! You'll definitely need your money tonight. It better
Floyd | still be in the kitchen where you left it after school.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

McMartin says, "Because of the Club Floyd motto"

maga says, "wuh, wait"

McMartin says, "Also, that totally looked like maga patting Floyd on the head and saying 'Save! Who's a good girl, then?'"

DavidW says, "aha. We need billfold from kitchen."

maga says (to Floyd), "e"

Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hall goes north to your bathroom and south to the stairs. Mom
Floyd | and Frank's bedroom is to the west, directly across from your room.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | You head down the stairs.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | When you're not in your room you usually hang here, watching TV from
Floyd | the couch. Frank sometimes works at a little desk he's got in here,
Floyd | but he's normally pretty cool with you watching TV while he works.
Floyd | There are stairs to the south. You can get to the kitchen to the
Floyd | northeast and the front door and hallway are northwest.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "ne"

Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | Mom's been bugging you about learning how to cook, so you've been
Floyd | avoiding the kitchen as much as possible when she's around. There're
Floyd | counters and cabinets along the walls and a table on one side of the
Floyd | kitchen. The hallway's to the west and the living room is southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "x table"

Floyd | You kinda remember leaving your billfold on the table, but you sure
Floyd | don't see it there now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says, "FRANK DONE STOLED IT"

DavidW says (to Floyd), "x counter"

Floyd | You glance at the counters, but there's no sign of your billfold on
Floyd | them.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under table"

Floyd | You glance under the table, then get down on your hands and knees.
Floyd | There that stupid thing is! You grab the billfold and stand up.
Floyd |
Floyd | Mom comes bustling in the kitchen with a bunch of groceries, which she
Floyd | plops down on the table. "Hey, Jeanie," she says.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hall
Floyd | The hallway goes between the kitchen to the east and the front door
Floyd | to the west. There's a bathroom to the north. You can slip around the
Floyd | wall of the hallway and into the living room to the southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a car horn being honked outside in front of the house. Must
Floyd | be April.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, ".alex sgatfas?"

Jacqueline says (to Martin), "That is a lot of Hardees money."

Jota says, "So perhaps next week should be a randomly-selected comp game or two."

Jacqueline says, "ooh - car horn!"

DavidW says, "Car horn. April. We can go now."

inky says, "you *say* hardee's, but it's actually a strip club"

maga says (to Floyd), "open door"

Floyd | You yank open the door. Sure enough, there's April in her old Mustang.
Floyd | You slam the door shut on your way out, heading for her car.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Two
Floyd | That toaster's been giving you fits the last few nights. "Could you
Floyd | fix it?" Deb asks, like it's the easiest thing in the world. Least
Floyd | now you're pretty sure it's the power cord and not anything more
Floyd | serious. It oughta be a quick enough fix.
Floyd |
Floyd | Quick enough once you get a drink, that is.
Floyd |
Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | You'd think you never ate, as hungry as you get every time you go in
Floyd | the kitchen. But you promised Deb no snacks, so the cabinets are
Floyd | off-limits for you. Good thing drinks from the fridge are okay. The
Floyd | den is southwest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to olethors), "She's Got a Thing for a Spring."

inky says, "actually, "hardee's" would be a good name for a strip club"

olethros says, "I cant remember if I ever played that"

olethros says, "heehee"

Jota says (to inky), "Hee."

DavidW says, "This is chapter two. We're now playing as Frank."

maga says (to Floyd), "open fridge"

Floyd | Inside the fridge, nestled among the food, are several cans of Coke and
Floyd | Bud.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says, "bah. I can't do it. Someone else pull the trigger"

Jota asks (of W), "Narrator?"

McMartin says (to Floyd), "get coke"

Floyd | You suddenly realize that you've been standing and staring into the
Floyd | open fridge for a while. You shake your head slightly and pull a Coke
Floyd | from the fridge. You'd prefer a Bud, really, but Deb's been on you
Floyd | about that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to maga), "ha"

olethros says, "ooh den"

McMartin exclaims, "All proper geeks are caffeine fiends!"

Jota asks, "What about improper geeks?"

maga says (to Floyd), "sw"

Floyd | On your way out you lightly kick the door of the fridge, closing it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Den
Floyd | You've got the desk where you work pushed up against one wall, over
Floyd | by an old stereo you keep meaning to fix. The only thing you can see
Floyd | from the desk is the kitchen to the northeast, but at least your back's
Floyd | to the TV. A worn banister and stairs to the south go up to the second
Floyd | floor.
Floyd | Sitting on your desk is a broken toaster, a junk box, a
Floyd | Phillips-head screwdriver, and a multimeter.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Jeanie clomping around upstairs. Probably getting ready to go
Floyd | out again tonight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure which one is less healthy, Bud or Coke."

McMartin says, "> Shine toaster with Cola"

olethros says, "impoper geeks are caffeine friends"

olethros says, "hehe"

maga says (to Floyd), "fix toaster"

Floyd | You're going to have to be more specific.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota asks, "So does no one here do things like >DANCE or >EAT TOASTER ?"

maga says (to Floyd), "x cord"

Floyd | The power cord's gotten pretty frayed from the toaster being plugged
Floyd | and unplugged so much. It's held in the toaster by screws.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

DavidW says, "I've already played this one, so I'm mostly watching this week."

Jacqueline says (to Jota), "No one is stopping you."

McMartin says, "One day I will write a game where EAT ROOM is a puzzle solution."

maga says (to Floyd), "xyzzy"

Floyd | I don't know the word "xyzzy".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "dance"

Floyd | You weren't any good at dancing when you were young. What makes you
Floyd | think you could do it now?
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie comes clumping down the stairs. She's all dressed up, with her
Floyd | plaid shirt tied so that you can see her midriff. "You going out again
Floyd | tonight?" you ask her. She doesn't answer.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "dance with jeanie"

Floyd | I don't recognize that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

McMartin says (to Floyd), "Dream of Jeanie"

Floyd | I don't know the word "dream".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "hm interesting how they made the game work from two perspectives"

McMartin says, "Hey, it looks like we aren't getting robbed tonight"

DavidW says (to olethros), "Three, actually. We get to be mom/Deb later on."

olethros says (to Floyd), "x midriff"

Floyd | I don't know the word "midriff".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says, "aw"

olethros says (to Floyd), "talk to jeanie"

Floyd | You decide to take a break from messing with the toaster. "So," you
Floyd | ask Jeanie, "how was school?"
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a stupid question, and you realize just how stupid it is right
Floyd | after you say it. Jeanie sighs. "How do you think it was?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | "I hated school, too. Couldn't wait to graduate."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Yeah? Why'd you even bother? Not like you need a diploma to do
Floyd | factory work."
Floyd |
Floyd | Should of known better than to even try to talk to her.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You roll your shoulders some to work the kinks out of them. "Just out?
Floyd | Seems like you oughta stay in and rest up before school tomorrow."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Look," she snaps, "Mom okayed it. I'm just going to ride around a
Floyd | while."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Whoa, whoa, okay." You decide to drop the whole thing. No skin off
Floyd | your nose if she wants to be tired tomorrow.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | As snappy as she's been tonight, you'd just as soon not hear her talk
Floyd | right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What'cha working on?" You look up to find Jeanie looking at the
Floyd | toaster like she's never seen one before.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "She's gone to the Pig," you tell her. "Why, was there something you
Floyd | wanted her to get?"
Floyd |
Floyd | She shakes her head. "Nah." You shrug and turn back to the toaster.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You put the old power cord back in the toaster and screw it in tight.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "screw power cord"

Floyd | Which power cord do you mean, the stereo power cord, or the frayed
Floyd | power cord?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "get up"

Floyd | With a start you realize that you've been staring at the wall for the
Floyd | past few minutes. Better do at least a little more work on the toaster
Floyd | before you give up.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sound of the front door slamming startles you. Jeanie's left
Floyd | already? Wonder where she's going.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Three
Floyd | The nice thing about going grocery shopping this late is that the store
Floyd | isn't too crowded and you can check out quickly. It would have been
Floyd | better if Julie Morgan hadn't been there, making those snide comments
Floyd | of hers, but all in all it wasn't too bad. Now maybe Frank or Jeanie
Floyd | can help you put the groceries away.
Floyd |
Floyd | Carport
Floyd | The carport's in bad need of a cleaning, what with all of the
Floyd | supplies for fixing the cars lining the sides and spilling out almost
Floyd | into the middle. It's getting so you can't hardly find space for the
Floyd | station wagon, though you managed to squeeze it in somehow. And you're
Floyd | beginning to think that you might as well get rid of the bikes. The
Floyd | side door to the house is to the west.
Floyd | The station wagon's door is wide open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

McMartin says, "Wait"

McMartin says, "I guess that wasn't a puzzle, then"

olethros says, "hrmhmrm"

maga says, "maybe we were meant to bond somehow"

DavidW says, "It can be fixed, but it's optional. The game isn't about puzzles."

Floyd | You must be holding some five or six sacks. But it was either that or
Floyd | make several trips from the car, and as tired as you are, you'd just as
Floyd | soon get this chore done quickly.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You almost drop a sack doing it, but you eventually manage to get the
Floyd | side door open. You go through it and close it behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | The living room is starting to look a little dusty, the TV
Floyd | especially. There are two paths worn in the green shag carpet, one
Floyd | going from the stairs to the front door, the other from the stairs to
Floyd | the kitchen, right by Frank's desk and the row of family pictures. The
Floyd | door to the carport is east.
Floyd | Frank's boots are sitting in the middle of the floor again.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You don't want to set them down until you're in the kitchen, since
Floyd | you're not sure you could pick them up again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "e"

Floyd | You just came from there, and with all those groceries. No sense in
Floyd | going back out again.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "l"

Floyd | Living Room
Floyd | The living room is starting to look a little dusty, the TV
Floyd | especially. There are two paths worn in the green shag carpet, one
Floyd | going from the stairs to the front door, the other from the stairs to
Floyd | the kitchen, right by Frank's desk and the row of family pictures. The
Floyd | door to the carport is east.
Floyd | Frank's boots are sitting in the middle of the floor again.
Floyd | Frank is sitting in the chair, hunched over his desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "ne"

Floyd | Kitchen
Floyd | After several rounds of remodelling you finally got the kitchen laid
Floyd | out fairly well, with the range near the cabinets and with plenty of
Floyd | counter space. If only the table weren't between the range and
Floyd | refrigerator. The living room is to the southwest.
Floyd | Standing in the middle of the kitchen is Jeanie.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hey, mom," Jeanie says as you walk in.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "dance"

Floyd | Goodness, it's been ages since you danced! Wonder if Frank would take
Floyd | you next weekend.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "hee"

Jacqueline says, "ha"

olethros says (to Floyd), "drop bags"

Floyd | You lift the sacks and pile them on the kitchen table.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

inky says, "aw"

Jacqueline says, "Wait, I wanted to talk to Frank."

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "sw"

Jota says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | It won't take long to put up the groceries. No sense in leaving it for
Floyd | later, especially since the ice cream would melt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie grabs some of the groceries and puts them on the counter. You
Floyd | didn't even have to ask her to.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie picks up some of the groceries and puts them away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "well now that we dropped the bags"

olethros asks, "undo?"

Jacqueline says, "Can't go now."

Alex says (to olethros), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Undo is a command that lusers use."

olethros says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Too many turns back."

olethros says (to Floyd), "sw"

Floyd | It won't take long to put up the groceries. No sense in leaving it for
Floyd | later, especially since the ice cream would melt.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie picks up some of the groceries and puts them away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "put up groceries"

Floyd | You take some of the groceries and put them where they belong.
Floyd |
Floyd | "What all'd you get at the store?" Jeanie asks, rooting around in the
Floyd | sacks.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "eat ice cream"

Floyd | I don't know the word "ice".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

maga says (to Floyd), "put up groceries"

Floyd | You take some of the groceries and put them where they belong.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You know I won't be here for supper, right?" Jeanie tells you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | "I'll leave some roast in the refrigerator in case you want some when
Floyd | you get home," you say to Jeanie.
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie shrugs. "Okay."
Floyd |
Floyd | Jeanie picks up some of the groceries and puts them away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You take some of the groceries and put them where they belong.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Jeanie go clomping out the front door. She slams it shut hard
Floyd | enough to make the dishes shake. Was she mad?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "g"

Floyd | You put up the last of the groceries and put the left-over sacks away.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "se"

Floyd | You can't go that way.
Floyd |
Floyd | A cough at the door makes you turn around. Frank's there, leaning
Floyd | against the frame. "Did, um, did Jeanie say where she was going?"
Floyd |
Floyd | "Not really." These days, does she ever? When she gets back you'll
Floyd | have to talk to her about it.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Four
Floyd | April asked if you wanted her to wait with you, but you told her nah
Floyd | and so she just dropped you off at the station.
Floyd |
Floyd | It was real easy to buy a ticket. You were afraid they'd want to see
Floyd | ID or maybe a letter from mom or something, but the guy just took your
Floyd | money and didn't say nothing.
Floyd |
Floyd | This all seems unreal, somehow.
Floyd |
Floyd | Bus Station, at the counter
Floyd | The ticket counter is more like a cage, with the guy giving tickets
Floyd | sitting behind bars. There's barely enough room in there for him and
Floyd | his chair. On the wall beside the counter is a big board listing
Floyd | arrivals and departures. The rest of the station is to the south.
Floyd | Sitting on the ticket counter is some change and a bus ticket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says, "If only you knew what had *really* built the Edifice and why..."

Floyd | You almost can't believe you just bought it. "Los Angeles," it says,
Floyd | as if you could forget.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros asks, "yow, and thus bus actually STOPS?"

maga says (to Floyd), "s"

Floyd | Bus Station
Floyd | Your feet click on the tile floor as you shift around, waiting. You
Floyd | could sit--there are a couple of worn chairs scattered around, but they
Floyd | all look really uncomfortable. The ticket counter and the board with
Floyd | the bus schedules on it are on the north side of the room, opposite the
Floyd | exit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "wait for bus"

Floyd | I don't know the word "for".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "wait"

Floyd | You wait a while.
Floyd |
Floyd | You turn your ticket over and over, looking first at one side, then the
Floyd | other. LA. It's so far away. Surely you'll be an actress, right?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "gah"

olethros says (to Floyd), "act"

Floyd | I don't know the word "act".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "you don't even know the word, girl"

maga says, "and by 'actress' we mean 'crack whore'"

Jota says (to Floyd), "l"

Floyd | Bus Station
Floyd | Your feet click on the tile floor as you shift around, waiting. You
Floyd | could sit--there are a couple of worn chairs scattered around, but they
Floyd | all look really uncomfortable. The ticket counter and the board with
Floyd | the bus schedules on it are on the north side of the room, opposite the
Floyd | exit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "smoke crack"

Floyd | I don't know the word "smoke".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "x schedule"

Jota says (to Floyd), "x phone"

Floyd | The chalkboard lists a bunch of buses, but the only one you really care
Floyd | about is the one coming from New York and going to Los Angeles.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | I don't know the word "phone".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "out"

Floyd | Outside the Station
Floyd | It's gotten chillier since you got here. Hopefully that bus'll be
Floyd | here soon. There's only one car in the parking lot, and not a lot of
Floyd | traffic on the road.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "x car"

Floyd | It's a beat-up old Pinto.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "steal car"

Floyd | I don't know the word "steal".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "enter car"

Floyd | The car's locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "goodgirl"

Floyd | I don't know the word "goodgirl".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "in"

DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under car"

Floyd | Bus Station
Floyd | Your feet click on the tile floor as you shift around, waiting. You
Floyd | could sit--there are a couple of worn chairs scattered around, but they
Floyd | all look really uncomfortable. The ticket counter and the board with
Floyd | the bus schedules on it are on the north side of the room, opposite the
Floyd | exit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >
Floyd | I don't see any car here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to DavidW), "hehehe"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in pinto"

Floyd | I don't see any pinto here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "out"

Floyd | Outside the Station
Floyd | Yellow light from the street lamps makes the parking lot and bus
Floyd | stop look weird. Old Church Road, running in front of the bus station,
Floyd | is pretty much empty. The station's behind you to the north.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the bus's engine some time before you see it. It comes
Floyd | crawling down Old Church Road and pulls into the lot in front of you.
Floyd | Its doors open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "sory I took us back in"

Jacqueline says, "ah"

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look in pinto"

Floyd | It's pretty dirty.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

DavidW says (to Floyd), "look under car"

Floyd | Nothing's under there, far as you can tell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "dance hokey pokey"

Floyd | I don't know the word "hokey".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says, "oh, bus"

olethros says (to Floyd), "x bus"

Floyd | The bus is belching smoke and shaking as it idles. Its door is open,
Floyd | and the bus driver is staring at you. The sign over its windshield
Floyd | reads "Los Angeles".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "enter bus"

Floyd | You hang back for a moment, then finally climb up in the bus.
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Bus
Floyd | The bus is empty except for you and the bus driver, but it still
Floyd | smells like old people and cigarettes. At least you have your pick of
Floyd | seats.
Floyd | The bus driver is looking at you, waiting.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bus driver looks at you. "Staying or going?" he asks, his hand out
Floyd | for your ticket. You think about mom putting a roast in the oven.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "kiss driver"

Floyd | Ew.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

DavidW says, "I was wondering if there was a poignant litter of abandoned kittens under the Pinto."

Floyd | "The ticket'll be plenty enough, thanks."
Floyd |
Floyd | "I said, grab a seat! We gotta move," the bus driver tells you. You
Floyd | pick a seat at random and flop into it. You put your head against the
Floyd | headrest with a sigh.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bus moves with a jerk, the brakes squealing as the driver coaxes
Floyd | the bus out of the station and onto the road. You close your eyes,
Floyd | letting the glow of street lights play over you, light then dark, light
Floyd | then dark. One last glance at the houses slipping past, fading away
Floyd | into the night, before you close your eyes and try to sleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | The End
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

olethros says, "ok what the hell"

olethros says (to Floyd), "U"

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Bus
Floyd | The bus is empty except for you and the bus driver, but it still
Floyd | smells like old people and cigarettes. At least you have your pick of
Floyd | seats.
Floyd | The bus driver's checking his mirrors and gauges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

olethros says (to Floyd), "out"

Floyd | The doors to the bus are closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I said, grab a seat! We gotta move," the bus driver tells you. You
Floyd | pick a seat at random and flop into it. You put your head against the
Floyd | headrest with a sigh.
Floyd |
Floyd | The bus moves with a jerk, the brakes squealing as the driver coaxes
Floyd | the bus out of the station and onto the road. You close your eyes,
Floyd | letting the glow of street lights play over you, light then dark, light
Floyd | then dark. One last glance at the houses slipping past, fading away
Floyd | into the night, before you close your eyes and try to sleep.
Floyd |
Floyd | The End
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

Jota says (to Floyd), "out"

Jacqueline asks (of olethros), "Are you saying we should go home to our loveless family?"

Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

olethros says, "hm"

olethros says, "well, this is no conclusion!"

Jacqueline says, "We have a restore point."

DavidW says, "The option to not take the bus is available."

olethros says (to Floyd), "\UNDO"

Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

olethros says (to Floyd), "\UNDO"

Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

olethros asks, "what was it?"

Jota says (to Floyd), "under"

Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

Jota says (to Floyd), "undo"

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Bus
Floyd | The bus is empty except for you and the bus driver, but it still
Floyd | smells like old people and cigarettes. At least you have your pick of
Floyd | seats.
Floyd | The bus driver's checking his mirrors and gauges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "undo"

Floyd | (Undoing one command)
Floyd |
Floyd | Inside the Bus
Floyd | The bus is empty except for you and the bus driver, but it still
Floyd | smells like old people and cigarettes. At least you have your pick of
Floyd | seats.
Floyd | The bus driver is looking at you, waiting.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Jota says (to Floyd), "out"

Floyd | Outside the Station
Floyd | Yellow light from the street lamps makes the parking lot and bus
Floyd | stop look weird. Old Church Road, running in front of the bus station,
Floyd | is pretty much empty. The station's behind you to the north. A bus is
Floyd | idling in front of the station.
Floyd |
Floyd | You step back from the bus. The doors hiss shut and the bus jerks into
Floyd | life, lumbering towards the road and away from the station. You watch
Floyd | the bus windows slide past you, blank with reflected light. The red
Floyd | taillights grow smaller and smaller and smaller until they're gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | You shrug your bag onto your shoulder. It's a fair walk back to the
Floyd | house.
Floyd |
Floyd | The End
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, or undo the current
Floyd | command.
Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

Jota says, "(TADS games have multiple UNDO.)"

olethros says, "aha"

olethros asks, "hm, is that all?"

Jacqueline says, "Hm - I guess we could replay and not take the bus, but enh."

DavidW says, "Pretty much. We could've taken the bankroll with little difference."

maga says, "I'm guessing that we needed to bond more somehow"

olethros says, "f about"

Jota says (to Jacq), "Ahem. You just not-took-the-bus."

maga says, "or something"

olethros says (to Floyd), "about"

Floyd | Please enter (R)ESTORE, RE(S)TART, (Q)UIT, or (U)NDO: >

DavidW says, "No one looked at the family pictures in chapter 3."

Jacqueline says, "I mean, I enjoyed the concept, but I guess I just wasn't that intrigued by the characters."

Jacqueline says (to David), "Hm, true."

olethros says, "yeah, but still"

olethros says, "there was little sense of influencing events"

olethros asks, "who wrote this game?"

DavidW says, "Sarge"

olethros says, "really, that's unexpected."

olethros says, "no LASERS"

Jacqueline says, "heehee"

Jota asks, "Did Grip have lasers?"

DavidW asks, "oh? Were there lasers in Child's Play?"

Jota says, "I think not."

Jacqueline says (to DW), "If not, there should have been."

olethros says, "now I am even more impressed"

Jota says, "He needs to escape from the drudgery of his work life *somehow*."

maga says, "seemed like there was some critical gameplay aspect we missed"

olethros says, "perhaps"

olethros says, "perhaps there is a hidden game within the game"

Jota says, "A game of Pong."

olethros says, "and while you can just let it flow past you, you have the option of ..."

Jacqueline says, "Does that mean we want to replay? It's early yet, I guess."

maga says, "if we were playing alone maybe we'd have gone more slowly and noticed things in the later sections. I dunno."

Jacqueline says, "Well, I noticed inconsistancies - not sure if that was intentional or not."

olethros says, "yes."

maga says, "I think that was meant to be a perspective thing"

Jacqueline says (to olethros&maga), "Not in perspective."

maga says, "like, to the girl it feels like she's asking for ten bucks, to the stepdad it feels as if she's asking for twenty"

olethros says, "there wer some subtle differences, yes."

Jacqueline says, "Well, unless you mean that dialogue was interpreted in a completely different way."

Jacqueline says, "Like, as Jeannie we said one thing, but as Frank we heard something quite different."

DavidW says, "Our actions were duplicated in one chapter to the next, but I think Sarge wanted to leave the player some free will, even though the scene currently played has already happened. It's tricky."

Jacqueline says, "I could see the perspective changing in the thoughts of how characters interpreted dialogue, but wouldn't expect the dialogue itself to change - though I can see how that could be part of the idea."

Jacqueline asks (of maga), "Yeah, the what?"

Jota says (to Jacq), "If you think of it more like a memory than a narration..."

maga says (to olethros), "when Jeannie asks for money, she just hears 'money's tight'; from Frank's perspective, he says 'money's tight' and then goes on to explain that this is because they had to fix the station-wagon up"